information entertainment gets healthy with an apple a day

I did an interview with Josiah Mackenzie on his Hotel Marketing Strategies Blog. In the interview Josiah asked me a question about how information entertainment is changing the guest experience, with specific reference to Microsoft Surfaces. I think Surfaces is cool, but I'm not convinced it's functional at the current price point (check out the full interview here). His question prompted me to do a little more research on some rumors about Apple's move into hospitality.

I liked these rumors for two reasons. First, Apple already has guest experience nailed. If you doubt me spend some time in an Apple Store. From architecture, to music, to hands-on-play, to service Apple knows how to manage the guest experience. Second, I'm a tech junkie and an Apple lover (both the mac and honey crisp kind).

What I found really excited me.... I may book a trip just to experience what I saw. Apple has partnered with Nanonation to provide some seriously awesome digital media content to guests. Most of their website revolves around digital signage, but via Apple's website you can register to watch a demo on how they are changing the face of in-room entertainment. And this isn't future in-room entertainment, it shows what is available now!

To get all the nitty-gritty details you really need to watch the presentation. You can do so by going here and then click "Watch the presentation". That will take you through a series of steps to register your info with Apple (you will need to setup an account). There is a also a single page pdf you can download here.

if you don't have time to watch the video here is my synopsis of the benefits.

1. A really awesome graphical user interface that is very easy to use, allowing your guests to buy services, research local attractions, and all the while allow you to store their search information making their future searches more guest-centric.
   
   
2. Through use of the Mac mini (a 6 x 6 x 2 computer) you can use the LCD HD TV that most likely is already in the room. And you get the awesome Apple Care warranty option. This also means the hardware and software platform for your In-Room Entertainment is the same as for your Digital Signage in the main areas.
   
   
3. The potential benefits of how this technology will migrate to the iPhone and iTouch is SWEET! See your entire schedule and be able to book reservations for any hotel amenities on your iPhone through an app that integrates with your room details.
   
   
4. Very intuitive and highly functional interactive channel guide for TV viewing.
   
   
5. A movie guide that is more advanced than the current solutions you generally see in hotel rooms, offering more flexibility and a richer user experience typical to that of a Mac.
   

If you're interested in implementing a new and different in-room entertainment or digital signage solution give me a call. Together we can find out of this solution is right for you.

For more information about kevin sturm Consulting please visit my website or email me.

new website launch

Okay, so it has been AGES since I've posted here. But I wanted to announce the launch of my new website! There is still some stuff I need to include, mainly client details...those are going to take some time as I need to get approval from clients for the images and text.


But thanks to my buddy DJ and the Showit Sites team I got my new site up. DJ and team created one of the coolest new website design products out there. It allows somebody like me who really is not all that creative nor has html coding ability to create a pretty HOT website. So, when you get a chance check out my new digs over at kevin sturm Consulting.

If you are intersted in getting a site like this setup email me and I'll send you a promotion code for your Showit Sites subscription.

a new title for what i am

I just learned what I am...

While reading Escape From Cubicle Nation I found out about Anywired and read the post Become a Lifestyle Entrepreneur: Complete Guide and 40+ Resources.

I'm a Lifestyle Entrepreneur! What does that mean you ask? You really should read the post, but here is a great description from Skellie over at Anywired.

"If you are — or would like to be — an entrepreneur, yet you’d be happy to earn enough to live the life you want rather than becoming filthy rich, lifestyle entrepreneurship might be a good fit for you.

Lifestyle entrepreneurs will generally base their ventures around time minimalism, or something they love, even if there are more profitable (but more time-consuming, or less interesting) options available.

The goal of a lifestyle entrepreneur is not to amass a huge fortune, but instead, to achieve certain definable goals and, beyond that point, to ensure business does not interfere too much with the enjoyment of those goals."

Now don't get my wrong, I think it would be cool to be really rich. But not at the expense of the relationships with my wife, kids, or current freedom. I spent 9 years climbing the corporate ladder and had a good position with a good salary. The next step in my plan was a VP position which would lead to a C-level position. But ultimately what I found is the stress of those positions, the time requirement, and the sacrifices I was going to make just weren't worth it.

I quit my job and started my own consulting firm to create freedom in my life. Here is my current daily schedule - which I adjust daily as I need to fit into my lifestyle.

7:15 am - Wake up to alarm clock of "DAAAAADAAAA IT'S LIIIIGHT TIIIIIME!"
7:45 am - Get breakfast for the alarm clock and take a shower
8:15 am - Make coffee and lunch for Bubba
8:30 am - Catch up on my favorite blogs and/or take Bubba to preschool
9:15 am - Blog or grab breakfast or read news
10:00 am - Work on client projects (yes I start "work" about 10:00 am)
4:00 pm - Stop work to play with my alarm clock
4:05 pm - Play with Bubba, Chrystal, and Mianna for the rest of the day.

I say this not to brag or gloat but to say it's possible. We are not getting rich and sometimes money issues are stressful, but we (my family and I) live a good life and love it. We have more freedom (though not necessarily financial) than we have ever had. Join what Tim Ferris calls the NR and break the chain!

mail call...what's the scoop on SaaS solutions?

I received an interesting email a while back from Carson Mehl at Lumiere Hotels.

"I am curious to know if you have heard of any robust hotel software being developed that is web-based. Our company has started using a number of web-based software solutions such as Google Docs and Basecamp by 37signals and they have been a huge asset as far as ease-of-use, collaborative ability, and no-need for extensive/expensive hardware. The great thing about web-based software is that it all operates inside the browser so it can be easily accessible from a number of devices."

Regrettably I was not able to point to any truly web-based solutions that I felt would meet the needs of a boutique hotel group. There are a few out there but none that I have extensive experience with or have been impressed with.

What Carson was really asking is why hasn't a hospitality technology vendor come up with some true SaaS applications that fulfills the requirements for a boutique hotel or resort location? For those that are not familiar with SaaS it means Software as a Service. Wikipedia defines it as "...a software application delivery model where a software vendor develops a web-native software application and hosts and operates (either independently or through a third-party) the application for use by its customers over the Internet. Customers do not pay for owning the software itself but rather for using it. They use it through an API accessible over the Web and often written using Web Services or REST."

In our email conversation Carson was good enough to expand to what hoteliers are looking for...

"...The newest evolution of internet browsers and runtimes like Adobe AIR are really opening up the possibilities for rich internet applications. Applications like Google docs, basecamp, ZOHO, buzzword (my fav), even Facebook that are stored in the cloud and accessible from anywhere, offer such an advantage. The ease of collaboration they provide is alone and tremendous improvement on traditional software not to mention the accessibility factor, ease-of-use, elegant design, and simple hardware requirements. I do not have super-deep ranging experience with hotel software, but what I have used is far short of what is possible today.

From an hotelier’s point of view, I see a demand for a well designed software platform that is easy to use and is far reaching ie: pos, pms, booking, web-booking, reporting, etc. What is currently available in this regard is very expensive and complicated from both a hardware and software standpoint. The existing platforms work well for companies with deep pockets, IT experts and central reservation departments...

I guess the dream software would provide seamless connection between web reservations, pms, and the gds. It would allow an administrator to provide different levels of access to employees. It would automatically create and update guest profiles. It would show activity feeds for a property (similar to a facebook newsfeed, but showing reservations made on the web, pms, or gds, and more). It would be dead simple to use. It would look elegant. Training would be obvious and intuitive. It would be a subscription based service or maybe annually licensed. The system would be complete so there wouldn’t be any interfacing problems between disparate types of software. All the data is indexed and searchable. Reports are automatically generated and distributed. Data is backed up securely. The software works in multiple languages. Software updates are seamless, because it is web based. Housekeeping could carry around a tablet pc or iPod touch and update their room list. Guests could check out from their tv or laptop. The list goes on and on. It may seem like a pipe dream, but I think it is a possibility especially as we are reaching the age of ubiquitous internet connectivity.

From a software company stand point I think there is demand for such a service. It might be a long long time before a large hotel company would make the switch but there are so many independent and small hotels for which this service would be a blessing. In addition, if the service was successful the access to data would be invaluable."

I thought the question was a good one and the desires well stated. So the question stands to why are there not more SaaS applications for hotel/resorts?

In my experience the main reason has been a data access issue. For pure web based applications the data is held (and often owned) by the vendor. Data security standards and PCI regulations make it difficult for vendors to effectively and affordably deliver on the needs of a hotel/resort. PMS, POS, and GDS solutions are generally considered mission critical to the business. If you don't have immediate access to the data then you cannot run your business successfully which often means inconveniencing the guest. And unless a company like Google with an almost infinite budget for infrastructure redundancy and fail-over brings a solution to the table the costs of effectively delivering a solution like this appears to be too high for a start-up looking at what is really a limited market (unless some of the larger brands like Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott joined in).

Ultimately I hope I'm wrong because I believe we need this. A corollary could be made to what people thought about CRM solutions until Salesforce.com rocketed to uber-status of success and took over that space as the darling of the market.

If you know of a SaaS POS, PMS, GDS or other hospitality technology solution leave a comment as I'd be interested to find out more about them. Or if you have other thoughts on this topic post a comment and share your wisdom.

confidence and humility are not mutually exclusive

In the last week of my full-time employment a co-worker (and former consultant) told me she thought I would find consulting harder than I expected. I didn't know her very well but I knew her well enough to know she was referring to the selling side of consulting, and I could tell by the way she said it she didn't think I had the "selling side" in me.

I told her I agreed that most consultants struggle with the selling side of the job, mainly because you are selling "you". What you personally bring to the table is all there is to sell, and part of what you bring to the table is confidence. But many consultants struggle with the concept that confidence and humility are not mutually exclusive. The opposite of humility is not confidence but rather cockiness. Cocky consultants are annoying, irritating, and often difficult to do business with.

When I talk with any customer I know I bring confidence to the discussion. Confidence that I know what needs to be done or that I don't.

Cocky consultants always know the answer, regardless if they really do. Confident consultants are humble enough to know when they don't know the answer, but instill confidence they can find it.

She was right that I'm not naturally a sales person. I have friends who are and they could convince you to buy the dirt off your own floor. As a consultant that is not the type of sales person you want to be. You want to be an evangelist.

If you are selling on the basis that you offer a service you're selling on cockiness: "Buy me because I'm here." You should be selling on the basis of a business problem that you personally can help solve: "Buy me because you have this problem and I have experience and knowledge to offer multiple solutions on solving that problem."

Seth Godin had a great post today on Self Promotion that spurred this thought. Thanks Seth!